**The Edvocate is pleased to publish guest posts as way to fuel important conversations surrounding P-20 education in America. The opinions contained within guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Edvocate or Dr. Matthew Lynch.**

A guest column by Anica Oaks

Both parents and teachers know just how difficult it can be to motivate children to do anything that they don’t want to do, and this includes aggressively pursuing their education. The average child would rather spend time with their friends instead of tackling additional schoolwork, but a little extra work while they are younger could positively impact their lives forever. Parents that would like their child to enter into college early will need to find effective methods for creating a motivated and driven student.

• Give Them Tangible Benefits

It is difficult for  younger child to grasp exactly why higher education is so important, and even teenagers might not understand how entering into college early will benefit them. Parents need to get creative and find ways to show their child exactly what their hard work will do. This might include speaking with a specialist in an interesting field or visiting local college campuses.

• Start When They Are Younger

Parents that start this process early will find that there is much less stress on their family. Children that grow up assuming they will be entering into college at a younger age will not be shocked by a larger workload as they continue to thrive.

• Find the Right Environment

The average public school does not have the resources to push advanced and gifted children very far. This is why it is important to seek out a school that actually inspires children with classes and programs that they might not have access to otherwise. College prep schools like the International School of MN are unique in the fact that they train children to start thinking like university students.

• Encourage Diverse Activities

STEM schools and careers are more important than ever, but children must have a diverse background if they would like to enter into college early. At a very young age, children should be encouraged to explore any subject that they find interesting. From musical instruments to poetry, these subjects will create a well-rounded student.

• Find the Right Friends

Parents will never have full control over who their child is friends with, but it is important that peer pressure is not holding your child back. Peer pressure does have the benefit of motivating students to an extent, but it rarely inspires greatness. Finding like-minded families will promote excellence in and out of the classroom.

Every parent wants what is best for their child, and this is why it is so important to promote autonomous students who want to be successful for the right reasons.

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Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here. Anica writes on behalf of the International School of MN, with education opportunities for students from early childhood through high school.